COMMUNITY ACHIEVERS

Boys and Girls Club of Norman director honored

Whitney Dunn, executive director of Boys & Girls Club of Norman at Center for Children and Families Inc., has been selected to serve as a 2023 Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance.

Afterschool Ambassadors continue their work with local programs while serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term, organizing events, working with community leaders and policymakers, and in other ways increasing support for the afterschool and summer learning programs families rely on. Boys & Girls Club of Norman empowers youths through trauma-informed afterschool programming that enhances character, builds leadership skills, encourages academic success, facilitates healthy lifestyle activities, and provides mental health services for children that have experienced complex trauma. For more information about the Center for Children and Families, go to www.ccfinorman.org. For more information about the Afterschool Alliance, go to www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Mustang High School teacher recognized

Mustang High School Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) adviser Carrie Miller was selected as the Oklahoma DECA Advisor of the Year during the Oklahoma DECA Career Development Conference this year.

DECA prepares emerging student leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management and encourages the development of business and leadership skills through academic conferences and competitions.

Miller was selected for her commitment to professionalism in managing the DECA chapter, preparing the students for competition, encouraging them to apply for scholarships, and for contributing to the greater good of Oklahoma DECA by being involved in an adviser leadership role.

Oklahoma County sheriff recognized

Sheriff Tommie Johnson III and the Oklahoma County sheriff’s office received recognition alongside Metro Technology Centers at the 2023 Oklahoma’s Association for Career and Technology Education (OkACTE) Partners in Progress Awards Ceremony in February.

Every year OkACTE encourages leaders of Oklahoma CareerTech centers across the state to nominate a business or agency within their communities that have played an integral in developing or improving a career training program within their institution.

Metro Technology Centers’ nominated Sheriff Tommie Johnson III and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office in recognition of their partnership that has grown over the past two years to include a number of workforce training advancements for the law enforcement industry in the state of Oklahoma. Some of the career training programs include the newly constructed public safety academy located at Metro Tech’s South Bryant campus, basic peace officer certification (BPOC) program, council on law enforcement education and training (CLEET), firearms training and course work.